The khukuri (Nepali: खुकुरी) is a Nepalese knife with an inwardly curved edge, used as both a tool and as a weapon in Nepal and neighboring countries of South Asia. Traditionally it was, and in many cases still is, the basic utility knife of the Nepalese people. It is a characteristic weapon of the Nepalese Army, the Royal Gurkha Rifles and of all Gurkha regiments throughout the world, so much so that many English-speakers refer to the weapon as a "Gurkha blade" or "Gurkha knife". The kukri often appears in Nepalese heraldry and is used in many traditional rituals such as wedding ceremonies.
The "kukri" and "kukkri" spellings are of Western origin, the original Nepalese form being khukuri.
Panche Baaja "Five Musical Instruments" is a set of five traditional Nepali musical instruments that are played during holy ceremonies like marriages. Panche baajas are usually played by the Damai; these are Dalit (untouchable) castes in Hindu tradition.
The panche baja includes the jhyali (cybals), tyamko (small kettledrum) or dholak (drums), damaha (large kettle drum), narsiha (a long S-shaped trumpet), shehnai (a folk oboe), and karnal (a wide-mouthed, straight trumpet with a bell that resembles the datura flower.).
Other rendering give the ensemble as: shehnai, jhyali, dholki, tyamko, and damaha.
Via Flickr:
Madal (Nepalese Drum, Nepali: मादल) is traditional musical instrument of Nepal. Madal is the most important instrument in Nepalese folk songs. It contains hollow and cylindrical wooden body called Ghar (Nepali:घार ). The opening of the wooden cylinder is covered by starched leather (leather strings are woven in such a way that, the skin on the two ends get stretched ). The leather is made up of goat or ox skin. The stretched leather produces sound when beaten, and the inner hollow part helps to give reverberation to the beat. Right side is smaller and the left is bigger, hence left side gives bass sound. Fingers and palms of both hands are used to bit the drum to produce sound.
The woven leather strings stretches the skins of the two ends; the strings are called Taan (Nepali: तान). Taan contains metal rings to tune it Some part of the streched circular skin is covered by black material called Khari (Nepali: खरी). Khari used to make traditionally by applying a paste of straw ashes and cooked rice. The uncolored region between Khari and outer circumference is called Maidan (Nepali: मैदान). The leather string used to hang Madal is called Juina (Nepali: जुईना)
